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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Glomerular Outgrowth as an Ex Vivo Assay to Analyze Pathways Involved in Parietal Epithelial Cell Activation
Published on: August 19, 2020
New insights into glomerular parietal epithelial cell activation and its signaling pathways in glomerular diseases
Hua Su1, Shan Chen1, Fang-Fang He1
1Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China.
Abstract:
The glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs) have aroused an increasing attention recently. The proliferation of PECs is the main feature of crescentic glomerulonephritis; besides that, in the past decade, PEC activation has been identified in several types of noninflammatory glomerulonephropathies, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetic glomerulopathy, and membranous nephropathy. The pathogenesis of PEC activation is poorly understood; however, a few studies delicately elucidate the potential mechanisms and signaling pathways implicated in these processes. In this review we will focus on the latest observations and concepts about PEC activation in glomerular diseases and the newest identified signaling pathways in PEC activation.
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